Will “Wan Nor” help Thaksin make inroad into deep South?

13 Sept 06:14 Key points summarised by AI

Wan Muhamad Noor Matha (Wan Nor) has launched the Prachachat Party, aiming to appeal to Thai Muslims in the deep South and increase political influence in a region traditionally dominated by the Democrat Party.
The new party is widely viewed as an extension of Pheu Thai, strategically leveraging new electoral rules where "every vote counts" to secure parliamentary seats for smaller parties and indirectly boost former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's presence in the South.
Despite facing strong opposition, Prachachat seeks to capitalize on Wan Nor's deep-rooted political experience and local support, potentially benefiting from existing anti-military sentiments in the region.
Wan Nor's long political career, marked by party-hopping and strong ties to the Shinawatra family, positions him to rally Muslim politicians, though the party's ability to expand beyond the deep South remains a challenge.

Suchada: Meet the reluctant star of Thailand’s cryptic crypto drama

Yesterday 15:38 Key points summarised by AI

Thai MP Suchada Zhang Thaensap faces intense scrutiny over her husband’s substantial 1.84 billion baht wealth, with opposition lawmakers alleging connections to international scam networks.
A significant portion of her husband, Taiyang Zhang's, declared assets includes a 1.44 billion baht loan to the now-bankrupt cryptocurrency hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which still owes him 1.34 billion baht.
Opposition MP Rangsiman Rome accused Suchada's husband of links to online scam networks and gambling sites, prompting Suchada to vehemently deny the claims, demand evidence, and file a defamation complaint.
Taiyang Zhang's background includes co-founding Ren Protocol, later sold to Alameda Research (linked to the FTX collapse), and some of his former associates have been convicted in crypto company failures.
Suchada, a former actress and first-time MP, maintains her husband's innocence, while her party leaders have distanced themselves from the allegations, deeming it a private matter.